An Inspector Calls - J. B. Priestley

(This Review Contains No Spoilers!) Characters: Arthur Birling, owner of a successful mill, and politician – head of the house. Sybil Birling, elderly pompous lady, who spends her time meddling about with a Women’s Charity – Mother to Sheila and Eric Birling. Eric Birling, the black sheep of the family – his best friend is the bottle, which in-turn makes him squiffy and so he seeks out services of hard-up prostitutes, who’re eager to grab his wad. Sheila Birling, graced with feminine charm and an elfin feature – she uses both attributes simultaneously. A notable intelligence and goes for what ... more

When my English teacher told us that we would be studying a play as part of my GCSE English course last year , I prayed that it wouldn't be something too difficult like Shakespeare ; something some of my friends had already begun studying in a different class. So when my teacher passed copies of this book around the class , I was hoping it would be something I would enjoy , as I tend to do really well in things I enjoy , however it is a completely different story if I don't enjoy something. Anyway …back to my story…. So….the teacher was handing round copies of this book. I grabbed my copy ... more

An Inspector Calls is a play written by J.B. Priestley in 1945, based before World War I, in 1912. The play is about a family, the majority of whom are aristocrats who live in a capitalist atmosphere; full of lies, pride and pure selfishness. Throughout the play a mystery inspector gradually reveals the characters' true identity, looking at how they all contributed to the suicide of Eva Smith. As the play progresses you begin to see that the characters start to understand their personalities, 'wrong-doings' and problems in a clearer light and each of them, despite differing degrees of ... more

Despite the fact that the play is so short, many themes are incorporated and interweaved into it. An example of the many themes present in the play is love, and love is viewed differently by each character in the play. For example Mr Birling links love to financial success, and I believe that the engagement he is celebrating is based on love linked to financial and social success. The Inspector on the other hand, represents love throughout the play, yet this becomes more evident at the end when he gives a sermon about how we should love one another. This theme is extended effectively by the ... more

HOW DOES PRIESTLEY USE DRAMATIC DEVICES TO CONVEY HIS POLITICAL VIEWS IN AN INSPECTOR CALLS? The play An Inspector Calls conveys a strong political message. It promotes the idea of socialism, as a society in which community and responsibility are central. This is strongly contrasted with the idea of capitalism, in which 'every man is an island' and has to work for himself, with no second thought for other people. The playwright, J.B.Priestley, uses many dramatic devices, such as dramatic irony and tension in order to effectively convey this political message throughout the play. He uses them ... more